September Plains and Peaks

Sept. 6 - Field Trip - Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park and then on to the Bird Trail at Audubon Wyoming Center at Garden Creek - meet at Eastside Safeway parking lot to leave at 7:00 AM.

Sept. 9 - Board Meeting - 7:30 PM - Casper College - Contact Donna Walgren for location.

(Click on title to go directly to article. Click on Sage-Grouse at end of article to come back HERE)

I was the Audubon representative on the Wyoming Game and Fish Sage Grouse Working Group. The Game and Fish Commission adopted the conservation plan that we wrote at its June meeting. After the problems with the prairie dog, grizzly and wolf plans, it was very gratifying to have all our effort rewarded by the adoption of the state-wide plan. I must admit that there were times when I thought the bureaucratic process was not going to allow a plan that could help the grouse.

It took three years for the plan to come together, but it is only the starting point for helping the grouse. The plan is a tool box of practices that ought to help the grouse. Local groups are to do the actual work of applying these tools because each specific action is to apply to a specific situation and location. No one has found a silver bullet that will solve the sage grouse decline, so a solution that works in one place might not work just down the road. When an action is taken, we are going to have to monitor the grouse to see if our action helps the population. One of the biggest jobs of the local working groups is going to be monitoring the grouse populations, probably by counting leks. Murie members are helping by counting many leks. We will not only need to continue counting grouse populations, but expand to counting more leks.

MURIE AUDUBON PROGRAM FOR SEPTEMBER

Audubon Wyoming Conservation and Volunteer Opportunities....

Helping Make a Difference.

MAPS or the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship program, is designed to provide critical information on the life histories of individual birds and the size, productivity, survivorship, recruitment and migration routes of bird populations. These objectives are being accomplished with mist-netting and bird banding stations in Casper and Laramie.

Migration surveys are being conducted at Steamboat Lake (Pathfinder) and Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Brood surveys were done at Steamboat Lake and Soda Lake Wildlife Management Area (Pinedale) to determine the reproductive success of waterfowl species and which species were utilizing the areas. Point counts were done at the Jerry Moore Ranch (Sublette County) to evaluate restoration effects on bird use, density and diversity in the restoration area. These areas are all IBAs. IBAs (Important Bird Areas) are sites that provide essential habitat to one or more species of birds during some portion of the year (nesting areas, crucial migration stop-over sites, or wintering grounds). To date, there are 35 IBAs in Wyoming.

All of these surveys and conservation efforts are completely carried out or assisted by volunteers! One of the main goals is to use citizen science to help "spread the word" about the need and importance of conservation of our birds and their habitats.

Come join the Murie Audubon Society as Alison Lyon, Conservation Coordinator for Audubon Wyoming, tells us about these and other programs, the volunteers who provide the manpower for them and how you can become involved. The meeting will be held at 7 PM on September 4, 2003 at the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building at 777 West First Street. The meeting is free and open to the public.

At Murie's August Board of Directors meeting, Lois and

Frank Layton informed us that our bird hospital had the dubious distinction of having the first eagle in Wyoming with West Nile virus. (The bird is a juvenile Golden from Glendo.) Unfortunately, as this disease works its way westward across the country, we knew it would hit our bird hospital sooner or later.

West Nile has moved more rapidly than the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had originally calculated, probably due to the increased transience of people in the U.S. - always a difficult thing to factor into a formula or equation. Colorado has now confirmed several human cases this summer, and just recently Utah identified the presence of the virus in that state. (As I write this, I have just heard on a Denver newscast that two alpacas have died from West Nile virus.)

Birds are considered major components of the West Nile cycle because they serve as hosts for the virus, which is known to be spread by mosquitoes to other birds and animals (and humans). West Nile has been identified in at least 138 species of birds by the CDC. In fact, the CDC treats birds as indicators of the disease; in many states, once the virus has been found in a bird, other dead birds are no longer tested - so the actual number of species that are capable of carrying the disease is probably not known.

In a discussion on National Public Radio's All Things Considered in mid-July, a Smithsonian researcher noted that in studying the disease and how it is transmitted, perhaps we should be less concerned with the birds that have died and more concerned with those that have survived. It is known that these birds can sometimes be carriers, but it is becoming less clear as to how the virus may be transmitted. In the Smithsonian study, virus-free birds placed in cages with birds confirmed to have the virus (with no mosquitoes present) were later found to have the virus. It is not known if the laboratory setting can translate into the wild, but the speculation of possible transmission, say via water, may indicate need for a change in methods of combating the spread of West Nile.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has continued to recommend special attention to sanitation in feeders, bird baths and backyard ponds; in other words, one of the best ways to combat disease is to reduce or eliminate the chances of disease organism transmittal. In conjunction with that, ABC emphasizes elimination of areas of stagnant water.

There is much information about West Nile virus on the Internet - two websites you can start with are The Raptor Center of the Univ. of MI, The Raptor Center, and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; also check out American Bird Conservancy. All sites have links for more information.

Fall migration is in progress - Stacey Scott has had Lesser

Goldfinches in his yard, and reports from Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park include Least and Western Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Lark and Chipping Sparrows. Jean Adams in Crook County reports seeing Chestnut-sided Warblers feeding fledglings in the Bear Lodge Mountains. No doubt the most unusual species for Wyoming is the reported sighting of a California Condor west of Rock Springs!!!!!!

Shorebirds are starting to move, and waterfowl will also be heading south, so be sure to check ponds and other riparian areas. And watch for migrating warblers, sparrows, gulls, hawks, etc., etc., etc. Fall migrants are not always favorites to "chase" with their confusing immature and fall plumages; but think of them as a challenge on which to hone your birding skills - to strengthen your powers of observation and attention to details; and if that doesn't work, just enjoy watching these feathered marvels for what they are - miracles of aeronautics!!

Wyoming Yard Birds - We received 183 yard bird choices from 16 states and the Yukon for July. The top species was the Rufous Hummingbird at 21, followed by 10 selections for American Goldfinch, with 7 Black-headed Grosbeaks in third place. In fact, we could probably call July the month of the hummers. There were 5 species of hummingbirds reported for a total of 32. Woodpeckers were also frequently reported - 6 different species for a total of 13 birds.

Casper: Gloria Lawrence - RB Nuthatch, Jim Lawrence - Rufous Hummingbird, Norma McGee - BH Grosbeak, Jim Herold - Blue Jay, Rose-Mary King - Bullock's Oriole, Joanne Odasz - Calliope Hummingbird, Frank Odasz - Spotted Towhee, Barbara/Jim Brown - European Starling, Peg Cullen - BC Chickadee, Bob Yonts - A. Goldfinch, Chris Michelson - W. Tanager, Betty Krause - House Wren, Bart Rea - Rufous Hummingbird, Bruce Walgren - BC Chickadee, Donna Walgren - Common Nighthawk;

Evanston: Patti Gorman - Rufous Hummingbird, Tim Gorman - Calliope Hummingbird;

As noted above, fall migration is now in progress - watch your yard for new visitors. Send your pick for your favorite bird species seen in, over, or from your yard for the month of August to Donna Walgren (ph. 234-7455), 4311 S. Center St., Casper 82601, or email bwalgren@coffey.com.

With the report of a California Condor sighting in southwestern Wyoming, I started thinking about the condor restoration program again. We last reported on the program in 1997, when the initial releases had been made in the Vermillion Cliffs area in Arizona. Since then, the restoration project has progressed slowly but surely. In 2002, 11 young condors were released, a few at a time, in 3 separate releases (February, September, and December). This technique allowed the smaller number of birds to gradually integrate into the existing flock.

At the end of 2002, The Peregrine Fund reported that the world population of California Condors numbered 198, with 76 birds flying free. 22 birds were produced in captivity - 8 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, 6 at the Los Angeles Zoo, and 8 at The Fund's Center for Birds of Prey. Also, there were 5 nesting attempts - 2 in Arizona and 3 in California. As of July 2003, there are potentially 5 breeding pairs - raising the hope that the first wild-hatched condors will fly the western skies this year!!

However, there were also losses - 2 condors were deliberately shot in Arizona, 1 died of lead poisoning in Utah, and 1 was killed by coyotes a few days after release. Routine fall trapping and testing found 14 birds with elevated blood-lead levels, 12 of which required at least one round of chelation, proving that lead poisoning continues to be a problem to be dealt with.

1. It was decided to create a "Friends of Murie" group in lieu of a "Local Subscription" category; it is the Board's understanding that we will not be required to share this membership list with National Audubon.

2. Stacey Scott is sending a letter to the IRS explaining Murie's understanding of the late payment requirements and requesting the penalty for late payment be waived.

3. Sage Grouse Plan - The Plan has been approved by the G & F Commission; local committees will be set up.

4. Lynn Herold and Jeanice Cnrich will be representatives of Murie at the International Wildlife Rehabitation Council to be held in Chicago this fall.

5. It was decided to hold the Board of Directors meetings on the second Tuesday of the month. (As in the past, all Murie members are welcome to attend.)

There has never been a more exciting time in bird conservation. We are conserving millions of acres of upland and wetland habitats throughout the Hemisphere for migratory birds. We are employing adaptive harvest management to guide regulatory decision-making for waterfowl. And we are working across geopolitical boundaries, sociocultural divides, and taxonomic interests to develop and carry out conservation plans for the majority of the continent's bird species of concern.

We, the Service, and you, our partners and constituents, are making considerable strides for migratory birds on a host of fronts. But, as you know, we still face great challenges: habitat loss and deterioration continue to harm bird populations and a host of other threats continue to cause direct loss of bird life, such as pesticides and other contaminants, wildlife diseases, such as West Nile Virus, entanglement in fishing lines, and collisions with towers and other structures. We face challenges of controlling overabundant populations as well.

To deal these challenges, the Service has produced A Blueprint for the Future of Migratory Birds, a draft strategic plan to strengthen and guide the Service's Migratory Bird Program over the next ten years.

The Service is keenly aware that effective management of migratory birds depends upon the collective efforts of many individuals, organizations, and nations. That is why it is absolutely essential that the Service develop

its migratory bird strategic plan in consultation with the many partners and constituents who share interest and active involvement in conserving these international avian treasures that have been entrusted to our care.

As a valued partner and/or constituent, you are key to making this effort a success. From whatever your vantage point, we ask that you please provide your views and recommendations on this draft plan. Your input is important to us and to the future of migratory birds!

Please access the draft strategic plan entitled A Blueprint for the Future of Migratory Birds and provide comments by October 10, 2003 at the following Internet address USFWS MIGRATORY BIRD PROGRAM

We look forward to hearing your recommendations regarding the future migratory birds!

(Ed.'s note: The draft strategic plan is a 12-page document that can be viewed/downloaded if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you are interested in the document and don't have a computer, please call Genevieve Pullis at 703/358-1854 and a copy will be mailed to you.

Ann Hines will be sending letters out to those people who have sponsored classrooms for Audubon Adventures in the past. Loyal supporters in the past don't have to wait for Ann's letter to send in their donation. (1600 Linda Vista Drive, Casper, 82609).

Thank you for supporting this vital program - it is greatly appreciated. Sponsorship of one classroom is $41.50.

Hostess Chairperson - A list of "bakers" will be provided for your use to call each

month to procure "goodies" for the monthly meeting (Dinah Utah has this list). Bakers for September have been contacted. Call Stacey Scott if you are interested.

Membership Chairperson - Coordinate activities with the Circulation/Membership Records Chairperson. Encourage non-members to join. If you are interested and to find out more about the position, call Stacey Scott.

Keynote: Sept. 4: Streams and People - Ellen Wohl, CSU geology: (author of Virtual

Rivers, 2001, Yale U. Press), Ernie Niemi, economic consultant, ECONorthwest, Oregon

Sept. 18: A polluted creek and how to fix it: Casper Creek - Jerry Eichorn, chairman, Natrona County Conservation District; Rik Gay, Lost Iguana Consulting; Bobbie Frank, director, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts; Steve Jones, watershed attorney, Wyoming Outdoor Council; Clay Landry, economist, principal of WestWater Research, Laramie.

Oct. 2: Working ranch creeks: Bates Hole - Bates Hole residents; Chuck Harnish, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality; Joe Meyer, Bureau of Land Management

Oct. 16: Urban growth along a mountain creek: Garden Creek - Star Lane Center students; Garden Creek residents; Marc Alston, ecosystem stewardship team, Environmental Protection Agency Region 8; Nina Burkardt, research social scientist, US Geological Survey.

Oct. 30: Rethinking water use, without a new dam: Deer Creek - Pat Tyrrell Wyoming State Engineer; Randy Tullis, Division I superintendent, Wyoming Board of Control; Kate Showers, research fellow, World Centre for Environmental History, University of Sussex, England.

Nov 6: Inspiring work for a creek: Garden Creek - Garden Creek residents; Rik Gay, Lost Iguana Consulting; Roxa French, Bitter Root Water Forum, Hamilton, MT; Clark Stevens, architect and planner, Livingston MT & Los Angeles, CA.

Nov 20: Better habitat for what?: Bates Hole and the Platte - Wayne Hubert, UW Zoology; Mike Quist, UW Zoology post-grad; Jeff Kessler, Biodiversity Associates, Laramie; Herb Waterman, Casper.